Took steroid injections. Had lip numbness on having medrol. Does steroid affect our immune system?

I have been give a total of 4 steroid injections since July, my last injection was Oct 12, then I was given a medrol dose pack the following week and stopped taking them after 2 days due to numbness of the lips (took benadryl for the reaction). My question is how long does this steroid use decrease your immune system? My granddaughter got the flu last night and wondering if my chances of contacting it is greater (I was not around her yesterday) but there is a baby shower at their house today?

Hi, thank you for the query. Steroid is used primarily for it's immunosuppresive or anti-inflammatory role. Now the question is, Does this immunosuppression can cause someone to get flu ? The answer is it might be "Yes". But that is not the doctor's concern. Medically significant immunosuppression may cause increase the incidence of secondary infection, cause activation of latent infections, mask acute infection (including fungal infections), prolong or exacerbate viral or parasitic infections, or limit response to vaccines. So, you don't need to be worried.

Answered: Fri, 9 Nov 2012

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